Summer Writing Courses Online

We've had a lot of requests for writing classes over the summer. We are offering three writing-related summer camps:

Writing: Creating Attactive and Effective Professional Correspondence (high school) 

Mastering Microsoft WORD: Skills for Success; Level I (middle to lower high school) 

ACT English and Writing Prep (upper high school)

Scroll down for more information on each of the three courses ...

Writing: Creating Attractive and Effective Professional Correspondence

(click on course title to register)

Class dates: Monday through Thursday, June 4 to June 8, 2012

Total classes: 4

Starting time: 1:00 pm Eastern

Duration: 1 hour

Prerequisite: Any high school writing curriculum

Suggested grade level: 11th to 12th grade (or advanced 9th to 10th grader)

Fee: $50 for all 4 classes.

Instructor: Robert Gotcher, Ph.D.

Course description: How do you write an effective letter of application? How do I correspond with a company concerning a complaint? How do I write my congressman to encourage him to vote for a bill? In our professional, consumer, and public life we are called upon to write many e-mails, letters, and fill out forms. This workshop can help develop the proper approach to such writings so you can gain a respectful hearing. We will learn formatting, proper word choice, developing an adult, professional "voice," and a handy treatment of "do's" and "don'ts."

Course materials: FREE online resources.

Homework: Daily practice assignments of writing e-mails, letters, and other types of professional correspondence.

Mastering Microsoft Word: Skills for Success; Level I

(click on course title to register)

Class dates: Monday through Thursday, August 6, 7, 8, 9
Total classes: 4
Starting time: 12:30 pm Eastern (11:30 am Central)
Duration: 60 minutes (one hour)
Prerequisite: none
Suggested grade level: 6th to 8th grade. Highly recommended for middle school students but open to any student who needs instruction in this area.
Fee: $50 for all 4 classes.
Course description: This is an essential skills course for all students. For all future education, your student will need a strong knowledge and skill level in Microsoft Word. Give your student confidence and the ability to use all of the basic functions of Word before the school year begins. Instruction will be in Word version 7 and above.
Course outline:
Class 1: The keyboard and using functions on the HOME tab: cut, paste, copy; font type and size, color, highlighting; centering, bullets, numbers; spelling and grammar check
Class 2: Page layout, margins, and columns; indenting and spacing; inserting headers and footers, page numbers; sizing and view;
Class 3: References: inserting citations, footnotes and endnotes, and comments
Class 4: inserting pictures, shapes, clipart, and charts; borders and color
Course materials: You will need Microsoft Word version 7 or above. Everything else is provided free online from Professor Brown Conroy.
Homework: Daily practice assignments of approximately ½ to 1 hour, for the four days

ACT English and Writing Test Prep

(click on course title to register)

Class dates: Monday and Tuesday, August 13 and 14, 2012
Total classes: 2
Starting time: 1:00 pm Eastern (Noon Central)
Duration: 2 hours each
Prerequisite: none
Suggested grade level: 9th to 12th grade
Fee: $60
Instructor: Erin Brown Conroy
Course description:  In this ACT English and Writing Test Prep Course, your student will get personal help with his or her English writing skills in a way that enhances their ability to score well on the ACT English and Writing portions of the exam. Students will view actual ACT English and Writing test questions, analyze the questions, and learn how to approach the questions for success. Students will also learn how to analyze a writing prompt, sculpt a good essay, and use their writing time to produce a high-scoring essay.
Course outline:
Session 1: The English Section: types of questions on the English portion of the test; how to analyze questions; how to read the questions for hints regarding the answers; practice test questions; introduction to the writing portion of the test
Session 2: The Writing Section of the test: analyzing numerous prompts; analyzing well-written essays; creating essays together, live; words and phrases to avoid/words and phrases to use; “diamond words” and their use in writing an essay; and what to do to be fully prepared for the writing portion of the test
Course materials: Paper and pencil
Homework:  There will be homework for this Test Prep Course on the evening of Monday, August 13, that will take your student approximately one hour to complete.
NOTE: This increases your student’s skills with personal feedback. Your student will have homework the evening of the first class, to be sent in by midnight of that day; your student will then receive direct feedback on his or her skills, as well as specific suggestions for improving his or her scores.



Equipment requirements: Classes are online, live and interactive. Students are required to have high-speed internet and a headset with microphone.

Misc:
The instructors will be available via email in between classes for questions and comments.
Recordings of classes are provided to students within 24 hours and available for 6 months.
Homeschool Connections does not provide record keeping services.